PLAN's first aircraft carrier starts sea trial

Posted On
Thursday, 11 August 2011 17:55

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World
Naval News - China

PLAN's
first aircraft carrier starts sea trial

China's
first aircraft carrier has begun its inaugural sea trial, the defence
ministry said Wednesday.
"According to trial plans, the first sea trial will not take long,"
the defence ministry said in a statement.
"After returning to the shipyard (in the port city of Dalian),
the carrier will continue its refit and test work."

Ex- Varyag
during refit in Dalian

The
long-awaited debut of the carrierl, the ex-Varyag, marked a step forward
in China's long-term plan to build a carrier force that can project
power into the Asian region, where seas are spanned by busy shipping
lanes and thorny territorial disputes.